A week ago we posted a story about Samantha Garvey, a 17-year-old student from Long Island and finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search. While we love a smart and driven teen girl around these parts, her story is extra interesting because she's homeless and has been living in a shelter with her parents and brother while shooting these amazing academic goals. So it is five hundred shades of awesome that we can give you the update to end all updates: Ellen DeGeneres and her friendly sponsors over at AT&T awarded her a $50,000 scholarship to the college of her choice. Teamed with the fact that Samantha and her family are due to move into their own place any day now and you've got yourself a heart-warmer to start the day. Spend your seven-minute coffee break watching the video at the link — it's not inspiring because it's a sad, struggle-town story, but because Samantha is so well-spoken that she makes you feel like you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Awesome. [Ellen]

Here's your inspiring story for the day: 17-year-old Samantha Garvey of Long Island moved into …
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After witnessing a car crash in LA, Zoe Saldana helped an bloodied elderly woman to the curb and waited with her until an ambulance arrived. Which is entirely lovely but would just make an accident seem that much more surreal for the victim if you ask me. Imagine driving along minding your own when you get into a crash and then Zoe peers into your window to ask if everything is okay. "Zoe witnessed the car accident and was very quick to help … [She] immediately got on the phone with 911 and she seemed very concerned," said an onlooker. "While waiting for help to arrive, Zoe returned to the woman's car and picked up the woman's handbag and sweater. Zoe was very caring and sweet to the woman." [People]

With OJ Simpson currently broiling away in a Nevada prison for being an all-round dick-bag and his Miami home facing foreclosure, the shy folk over at PETA have taken the opportunity to drum up a little publicity by asking that the house be donated to them so they can turn it into a "Meat Is Murder" Museum. "Our museum will remind visitors that violence may not always be preventable but that it sometimes can be prevented and that nonviolence begins on our plates," president Ingrid E. Newkirk wrote in a letter to JP Morgan. "For instance, many wonderful flesh-and-blood individuals-who feel pain and fear as acutely as humans do and who value their lives in much the same way-are knifed to death every day for nothing more than a fleeting taste of flesh." An exceptionally classy statement seeing that OJ was found not guilty of the stabbing death of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and friend Ron Goldman. [Radar]

Those of you who came of age in the '90s prepare to be excited/bemused/terrified — the rest of you can move right along — because the Spice Girls could reunite for the London Olympics. The news comes just days after Mel B signed off on a Spice Girl musical written by Ab Fab's Jennifer Saunders. Zig-a-zig-ah, indeed. "The girls are so very excited for their musical to be released," said a source. "They absolutely love what Jennifer Saunders has done with the script. It's going to be unlike anything anyone has ever seen on stage. Fans of the Spice Girls and younger generations that never knew their music will get to experience what Girl Power is all about!" [Radar]

In Helen Lovejoy news, Chris Hemsworth's wife Elsa Pataky is copping shit from pearl clutchers after she went on a water slide while pregnant. The celebrity scientists over at People have put up a poll to make it official and sought the advice of expert readers from their site. "I am currently pregnant and there is no way I would be sliding down that steep slide into the water with such precious cargo on board," said some lady named Mel. What say you? Is a sudden rush of water to the bathing suit area likely to cause some foetus woe? Or is it all just a bit of fun? [People]

Would you drink David Lynch-brand coffee? Because it's a reality now. [Huff Po]

Rihanna Tweeted a picture of herself working out in a string bikini. Because, you know, why not? [Page Six]

Professional rabble-rouser David Furnish, aka Elton John's other half, apologizes for bitching about Madonna in an effort to redress the current imbalance in the old-school gay world. [Page Six]

Good news for Halle Berry and bad news for her stalker – he was just sentenced to 386 days in jail. [NYDN]

The nanny who accused Rob Lowe of sticking his hand down her pants says she never signed a confidentiality agreement. [NYDN]

They say that Brad Pitt's zombie movie World War Z is going to help the brain-hungry critters overtake vampires in cinema. And the pendulum swings again. [E!]

Kelly Osbourne tells Radar to go and fuck themselves after they reported she was back on the hooch. [E!]